Hello, I'm very new to caring for fish, and I'd just bought a shubunkin goldfish yesterday. I would really appreciate it if you could help answer some of my questions.

I admit I did not think everything through and gotten her with a 1 gal bowl, some stones, and a plastic plant. I feel terrible for having her cramped up in the little space, but the earliest I can get a 10 gal tank is in the middle of November.

Would she be able to survive in there for about three weeks? I did go out today and I bought a Tetra Whisper PF10. Still not entirely sure of how I'm going to clamp that thing to a bowl... But do you think it would suffice to move the air/water around?

I read that fish bowls have issues with oxygen and dirty water, I believe, so I've been making the best effort I could to do small water changes. I changed about 15% of the water today and would be willing to do it daily until I can get her in that tank, but I also don't want to stress her out by doing it too much. For partial water changes, is it alright to take a small cup and scoop water out, and then take water that I'd left sitting out for a few hours (with the dechlorinator) and just pour the same amount back in with her still in the bowl?

Two not as urgent question, would my goldfish get lonely if she is the only fish in the bowl/tank? Also, I just realized today that one of her eyes are completely black while the other has a gold/orange iris. Is this normal?

I would really appreciate any help you could offer!

The goldfish will get lonely but I would only suggest getting a friend untill you have a 40 gallon tnak or bigger as they need  20 gallons each or more as adult but 10 gallons will work for a bit.

About the eye its completly normal.

Hope I helped!

If a 10 gallon is the biggest tank you can manage, have you considered re-homing your goldfish?

Shubunkins can grow quite large and it will soon outgrow a 10 gallon tank or become stunted by it (meaning that the fishes growth will slow drastically). Which area of the world are you in? There might be a way of finding a new home quite easily, perhaps someone local with a pond in their garden or sometimes local parks can take fish in (whatever you do, don't release your fish into any streams or such as doing so is illegal).

The eye you describe is more than likely what is known as 'button' eye, quite common from what I've heard. As for fish getting lonely, well... I think they appreciate company like most animals, but sometimes it is best for their health to keep them indivudally.

I made a similar mistake, with 2 goldfish in a 5 gallon tank, one died so now I currently have my common goldfish Lucky (who is still with me over a year later) in a 23 gallon tank by herself, her growth is stunted, so any new fish I buy would out grow her and the tank in no time (therefore pretty pointless bothering with) not to mention an additional fish could affect the water quality being quite a small space. So I'm looking after her now until she's big enough for a pond or I can get larger accommodation for her. 

Hmm... Well, I've unfortunately got to keep her in the fish bowl for just another two weeks, and then my friend is giving me his old tank which is a 10 gallon. If I start saving now, I could probably afford to upgrade to a larger one (20 gallon?)--just gotta find a suitable place for it. The shubunkin goldfish can manage in the 10 gallon for maybe two months, right?

I want the best for my fish and am willing to rehome her if that's absolutely necessary. Do you think the time factors in switching sizes are too long?

Thanks again for your help! Would someone be able to take a look at the current setup I have with the fish and tell me if there are any big issues besides the fact that it's a bowl? (Attached in the previous post.)

I can't see any big issues with the current set up apart from the obvious

As for switching sizes... this is a tough one really to gauge on. I'm sure she will be okay in the bowl for 2 more weeks, just keep up with regular water changes. I would say that 10 gallons as a temporary home is okay.

Really not sure about the 20 gallon? A pond would be a better solution... Keeping Lucky in a 23 gallon tank, was because she was stunted from having a bit of a dodgy background (she came from a fair stall) and then being kept for 5 months in a 5 gallon tank... So I'm really not sure if keeping your fish in a 20 gallon tank would be the right thing to do  

How big is the fish currently? Moving the fish to a pond in spring/summer next year is always a possibility.

Personally fantailer I disagree, I don't think anyone should knowingly stunt their fish just to be able to keep it in a tank 

I'm really sorry to hear that  
May I ask why you gave the fish a salt bath? Was a little confused by that statement as no one has mentioned salt baths in the entire thread.

Sorry to hear that. If you do still want to keep fish and a 10gal is the biggest you can get I would look into some smaller fish that will be able to live happily in a tank of that size.

Yeah that's very true Skwishee, that didn't enter my head when I commented that. That's my bad, sorry about that.